Closure and dispenser for containers



Oct. 28, 1941. J. T. FREEMAN 2,260,937

CLOSURE AND DISPENSER FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 29', 1940 EzigilATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1941 J orge Teofilo Freeman, Buenos Aires,Argentina Application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,275' In ArgentinaDecember 26, 1939 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing and closure forming device foruse in connection with cardboard or similar containers of granular orpowdered material from which it is only desired to remove a portion ofthe contents at any one time.

Certain products such as various breakfast cereals, coffee, sugar andthe like, for instance, are largely put out in cardboard boxes, whichmust be broken open to get at the contents. Once this is done, theproduct soon loses its crispness, aroma or freshness generally, as thecase may be, and frequently becomes unpalatable, or requires artificialdrying before it is again fit for use.

It is therefore one of the objects of my invention to provide acombination dispensing and closure forming device particularly adaptedfor mounting in a cardboard container, by means of which any desiredportion of the contents may b dispensed without breaking open thecontainer, and which enables the dispensing outlet to be closed andsubstantially sealed against the penetration of dampness when thedispensing operation is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposewhich will enable the contents to be dispensed in the form of arelatively small restricted stream and which while so functioning willagitate the contents and prevent possible clogging of the same at theoutlet, so that a smaller outlet carf be used than is otherwisepracticable.

In this respect therefore the device is suitable for use in permanentglass jars and other con tainers adapted for refilling and from which itis desired to dispense the contents in small quantitles, and which maybe mounted in a normal inverted position against a wall or like surface.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims. a

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container equipped with my improveddispenser.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device as mounted in the container and ina closed position.

Figure 3 is a face or front view of the device as mounted in thecontainer and in a dispensing position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the device dispensing position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of thedevice detached.

Referring now more particularly to th char acters of reference on thedrawing, the device comprises what may be termed a paddle wheel, formedof suitable thin rigid material and consisting of a body having acentral hub portion I and a plurality of arm 2 projecting therefrom inevenly spaced relation thereabout. Vanes 3, preferably of triangularform, extend along and project in a common transverse direction from oneside edge of the arms at right angles thereto, the vanes being so setthat their widest part, or their base, is adjacent the hub as clearlyshown, while their apex i adjacent the outer end of the arms.

The wheel is set flatly against one side wall 4 of a container near acorner thereof and so that the arms just clear the adjacent top (orbottom) wall 5 of said container. The wheel is turnably mounted in placeby means of an axial spindle 6 rigid therewith and projecting through asina wall 4, where it is connected with a turning knob 1 of suitableform.

A small outlet opening 8 is formed in the wall 5 in radial alinementwith the wheel and one of the arms is formed at its outer end with anarcuate shutter 9 projecting from the same face of the wheel as thevanes, and adapted to sub stantially contact with the under surface ofthe wall 5 and to cover the opening 8 when the wheel is in a certainposition. In order that this position may be readily indicated to theoperator, an indicating arrow [0 or other mark is placed on the knob I.

In operation, when it is desired to dispense from the container, thesame is inverted with the outlet over the vessel into which it isdesired that the contents shall fall, and the knob is twirled. This ofcours intermittently opens the outlet to allow the contents to issuetherefrom, whil at the same time th rotating vanes, being position-ed sothat they cut across the path of movement of the contents within thecontainer, keep the same agitated besides tending to force such contentsfrom the outlet. When a dispensing operation is completed, the knob isturned until th indicating mark I0 denotes that the outlet is closed.

It may here be noted that the number and size of the arms and vanes, andthe size of the outlet opening, will vary according to the type and sizeof the product to be dispensed, as obviously many different products maybe dispensed with my device.

From the foregoing description it will be read ily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to a do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my-invention, What I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing agitator for a container comprising a rotatable unitformed from a sheet of initially fiat bendable material, said unitincluding a hub portion, fiat arms radiating from the hub portion in theplane of said hub and in circumferentially spaced relation, vaneportions formed on side edges of said arms and at right angles to theflat thereof; an axial pin fixed on and projecting from the hub in adirection opposite said vanes, and an operating member on the free endof said pin.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said vanes are triangular inconfiguration; the edges of the vanes nearest the axis of rotation beingparallel thereto.

3. A dispensing agitator for a container comprising a rotatable unitformed from a sheet of initially flat bendable material, said unitincluding a hub portion, flat arms radiating from the hubportion in theplane of said hub and in circmnferentially spaced relation, vanevportions formed on side edges of said arms and at right angles to thefiat thereof, and an arcuate shutter on the outer end of one arm beyondbut projecting in the same direction as said vanes, the shutter curvingon an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the hub; an axial pinfixed on andprojecting from th hub in a direction opposite said vanes,and an operating member on the free end of said pin.

JORGE TE'OFILO

